Compare towns
Newfields vs Effingham vs Exeter vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Effingham has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Newfields | Effingham | Exeter | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
1,912 |
16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,163Lowest 23% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.